Freshwater suspended sediments and sewage are reservoirs for enterotoxin-positive Clostridium perfringens.

ABSTRACT: The release of fecal pollution into surface waters may create environmental reservoirs of feces-derived microorganisms, including pathogens. Clostridium perfringens is a commonly used fecal indicator that represents a human pathogen. The pathogenicity of this bacterium is associated with its expression of multiple toxins; however, the prevalence of C. perfringens with various toxin genes in aquatic environments is not well characterized. In this study, C. perfringens spores were used to measure the distribution of fecal pollution associated with suspended sediments in the nearshore waters of Lake Michigan. Particle-associated C. perfringens levels were greatest adjacent to the Milwaukee harbor and diminished in the nearshore waters. Species-specific PCR and toxin gene profiles identified 1

SUBMITTER: Mueller-Spitz SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2918953 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature